Real Madrid suffered its worst defeat against Barcelona under the direction of José Mourinho, with a score of 3‑1 that marked a notable contrast to the previous matches led by Carlo Ancelotti and Xabi Alonso. The result, obtained at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, highlighted the evolution of the white team and the effectiveness of Mourinho's strategy, which knew how to take advantage of possession opportunities and limit the rival's errors.
In the recent history of the Clásico, coach Hansi Flick has lost only two of the eight games played against Real Madrid in all competitions. The first defeat was recorded exactly a year ago, when Barcelona beat Xabi Alonso 2‑1 at the Bernabéu. The second, the current one, came against the team led by Mourinho, where Barça achieved a more comfortable victory than the resounding 0‑4 they suffered under Ancelotti's tutelage two seasons ago.
One of the most talked about aspects of Flick's performance was the forward defense that led to repeated offside traps. In Ancelotti's Clásico, Real Madrid were offside 12 times, while in the final of the Spanish Super Cup, won by Barcelona, only three were flagged. In the meeting with Mourinho, Madrid's offside number was reduced to three, indicating an improvement in the white team's defensive discipline.
Mourinho also opted for a more defensive style than Xabi Alonso, which was reflected in greater possession and a greater number of completed passes. Real Madrid achieved 37.8% possession, an increase compared to the 31.5% recorded in Alonso's Clásico, and made 380 passes compared to 274 the previous year. The incorporation of players like Bernardo Silva and Arda Güler also contributed to the improvement in ball distribution.
The final result and statistics reveal that Real Madrid is learning from its mistakes and adapting to Barcelona's tactics. With the victory, Barcelona advances in the standings and maintains its leadership position, while Real Madrid will have to continue adjusting its strategy to face the next matches of the season.